Furnace heat regulator



Oct. 23, 1934. P. c. TIMM El AL FURNACE vHEAT REGULATOR.

Original Filed June 15. 1932 Reissued Oct. 23, 1934 UNITED STATESFURNACE HEAT REGULATOR Paul 0. Timm and William P. Timm,

Lincoln, Nebr.

Original No. 1,897,408, dated February 14, 1933,

Serial No. 617,408, for reissue July 2,

June 15, 1932. Application 1934, Serial No. 733,526

' 18 Claims. (01. 236 -16) The present invention relates to furnace heatregulators, it being in the nature of an improvement on the furnace heatregulator which we show and describe in our prior patent, No.

1 1,89'7308, grantedFebruary 14,1933.

- One of our objects is the provision of mechanism which will give anexceedingly sensitive control over the room temperatures.

Another of our objects is the provision of a lever control forregulating the room temperatures.

Another object'which we have in view is the provision of a compoundfulcrum for altering the rate of movement of the regulating lever, thefulcrum being adjustable to provide either a twopoint bearing or arolling fulcrum. I Another of our objects is the provision of a deviceto be manually operated for opening the draft valve of the furnace, thedevice being automatically disengaged when the room temperature reachesa predetermined limit.

Another: of our objects is the provision of a light 'or other signalindicating to the occupants of the room whether or not the draft valveis open.

Having in view these objects and others which will be pointed out inthefollowing description,

we will now refer to the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view largely indiagram and partly in side elevation and partly in section showing apartof the furnace and all of the operating mechanism for our furnaceheat'regulator.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the tripping mechanism. I I wFigure 3 is an elevational view of fragments of the support andregulating lever, showing particularly the fulcrum arrangement.

The support 10 is secured to a fixed part of the building to dependtherefrom directly above the 0 dome 11 of the furnace 12. The support 10is preferably braced as shown at 13. The support is provided with aplurality of apertures 14 for adjustably supporting the regulating lever15. The purpose of the plurality of apertures 14 is to 5 make itpossible to secure the lever 15 at the desired height above the dome 11of the furnace. Furnace installations vary widely and there is greatvariation in the distance between the top of the furnace and the ceilingof the basement. 9 The number of apertures 14 and their distances apartaffords a structure which adapts itself readily to all furnaceinstallations. The short arm of the lever 15 is pivotally connected to ayoke 16 which supports a depending rod-17. The long arm of the lever isprovided with a counter-balancing spring 18 which is connected to thebasement ceiling, the action of the spring 18 being to hold the rod 1'7pressed against the dome of the furnace. Secured to the long arm of thelever is a chain'19 or the-like which '60 is connected to the draftvalve 20 of the'furnace. Upward'movement of the longarm of the lever 15will thus be communicated through the chain'19 to open thedraft valve 20and downward movement of the long arm of the lever 15 will permit theclosing of thedraft valve 20. The chain 21 is also secured to the longarm of the lever 15 and it is secured at its opposite extremity toalever 22 which is pivotally suspended from the ceiling. The lever 22 isconnected by means of a chain 23 with the check valve 24. Downwardmovement of the regulating lever 15 'will therefore open the check valve24 while it is permitting the draft valve 20 to close. There is oneimportant difference, however, in themovements of the two valves owingto the lever connection 22 between the chains 21 and 23. The long arm ofthe regulating lever necessarily amplifies the movements of expansionand contraction of the furnace dome 11. This amplified movement istransmitted to 30 the draft valve 20 but the movement transmitted to thecheck valve 24 isstill further amplified through the lever '22.It'should also be' noted that the lever 22 is provided with a pluralityof apertures which permit adjustment'betwee'n the 35 chains 21 and 23 toincreaseor decrease the amplitude of the movement. 1 'As thus fardescribed, the features are found in our prior patent but a number ofimportant refinements havebeen added to the structureas shown in thedrawing of our present application. The lever 25 is pivotally secured tothe lever 15 and itcooperates with an arcuate rack 26 having peripheralcorrugations or other friction means for resisting the movements of thelever 25 about its pivot. The rack 26 is also provided with a scale (notshown) for the convenience of the operator of the furnace. The cables 19and 21 are secured to the lever 15 through the lever 25. The connectionsof these two cables are on opposite sides of-the pivotal point of thelever 25'. Any adjusting movement of the lever 25 will therefore becommunicated to the cables in op; posite directions. The purpose of thelever 25 is to provide an exceedingly fine adjustment for the control ofthe furnace temperatures. It sometimes becomes necessary to manuallyopen the draft valve 20 in order to quickly raise the temperature of thefurnace. We have therefore provided a mechanism as: best shown-in Figure2, the mechanism being manually operable to open the draft valve butbeing automatically operable to restore the draft valve to itsconnections for automatic operation through the lever 15. We haveprovided a housing 2'7 on one side of the lever 15 and a second housing28 on the other side of the lever. The housing 27 which is in the rearof the lever as shown in Figure 2 and which is in front as shown inFigure 1 has two pulleys 29 and 30 journaled therein. The pulley 29carries the chain 21 while the pulley 30 guides the chain 19. The chain19 passes over the pulley 30 and then downwardly to the draft valve 20in the rear of the lever 15 as viewed in Figure 2. Pivotally securedwithin the housing 28 is a lever 31 having an irregular outline as shownin dotted lines in Figure 2 and having its pivotal axis at 32. Thislever has an arm 33 which projects beyond a cut away portion of thehousing 28 as shown in Figure 2 but which lies entirely withinthehousing 23 when the lever 31 is in its opposite position of pivotalmovement. The chain 19 is provided with a free link 34 which may behooked over the arm 33 of the lever 31 in the manner shown in Figure 2.Pivotal'movement of the lever 31 will withdraw the arm 33 into thehousing '28, and it will shear off the link 34. The chain 35 is securedto the free end of the lever 31 and toe. fixed point in the basenmnt ata position such that the chain will be substantially vertical. It isobvious that downward pivotal -movement of the long arm of the lever 15will result ina pivotal movement of the lever 31 due to the tensionwhich will'be exerted on the chain 35. Because of the eccentric pivotalconnection of the lever 31, the movement of the lever 31 will beamplifiedto suddenly release the free link 34 from the arm 33. Themovement of the lever 31 is initiated by the downward movement of thefree end of the lever 15 which carrieswith it the pivotal point 32. Theinner end or arm 33 of the lever 31 thus moves down with the lever 15,but the outer end of the lever '31 is held from moving, exceptrelatively to the lever 15, by the chain 35. The amplifica tion ofmovement of the arm 33 results from the fact that this movement is acompound of the movements of the levers 15 and 31. The purpose ofthisconstruction is to make it possible to open the draft valve 20 bycausing the free link 34 to engage the arm and then to leave the furnacewithout paying any further attention to it.

As th fm'nace warms up and'as the lever 15 assumes a predeterminedposition, the link 34 will be suddenly disengaged so that the -draftvalve 20 will be automatically closed. In the spring and autumn of theyear, it is frequently desirable to close the draft before the automaticmechanism as above described will release the draft to be closed. Forthispurpose a' chain 36 or other flexible element is secured to thechain 35 and it is lead upwardly through the ceiling and into the livingroom. As the. furnace warms up, the chain 36 may be grasped to lift upon the chain 35 andto thus release the free link 34 from the arm 33,thus closing the draft. The upward movement of the long arm of thelever; will release the tension onthe chain35 so that the lever 31 ispermitted to' fall back into the position'shown in Figure 2. Should thelever ,31 not fall back, it is an easy matter to grasp the hanger 37 torestore the lever 31 to its position where the free link may be againhooked on the arm 33 when desired. The chain 35 may be arh'usted inlength in any desired manner in order to trip the lever 31 at thepredetermined instant. This may be accomplished by providing a hook link38 which may be caused to engage any one of a number of the upper linksto adjustably shorten the chain 35.

The means for holding the draft valve 20 in open position and forautomatically closing the draft valve at a predetermined furnacetemperature may be used independently of the mechanism for graduallyopening or closing the draft valve 20 or it may even be installed alone.After refueling the furnace, it is often desirable that the draft valve20 be left in open position until the fire gets started to the point ofthe normal temperature of the living rooms. To leave the draft valveopen bymeans of the devices at present in use is rather dangerous sinceit is an easy. matter to forget that the draft valve is open with theconsequence that the furnace and room temperatures may become so greatas to constitute a serious fire hazard. 'By employing a device such asthe link 34 on the arm 33 of thelever 31 and by making this responsiveto the furnace temperatures as through the lever 15, the draft valve 20will be automatically closed at the predetermined furnace temperatureregardless of whether or not it receives any further attention. Thepredetermined point at which the draft valve is tripped to closingposition is adjustable through the lever 25. In milder weather themechanism should be automatically tripped at a much lowerfurnace'temperature than when the weather is cold or severe. The point,however, is that this mechanism may be installed on a furnace eitherwith or without the installation of the mechanism for gradually openingand closing the draft valve 20 and the check valve 24.

The lever 15 has a compound fulcrum at .its pivotal point as best shownin Figure 3. The support 10 is provided with a plurality of apertures 14adapted to receive a pivot pin 39. The lever 15 is provided with oneaperture which is elongated vertically into the form of a slot as shownin'dotted lines in Figure 3. Secured to the side of the support 10 is anarcuate bearing member 40, this being secured to the support by means ofa bolt or the like 41. The position of this bearing member must bedetermined by the aperture which is employed for receiving the pivot pin39. The construction, however, affords an easy means for adjustmentsince the bolt 4'1 may be easily secured to the support 10 at anydesired point. At thev extremity of the arcuate member 40 is anadjustable abutment 42 which may be. adjusted in length. When in theposition shown in Figure ,3, the fulcrum will move gradually along theunder surface of the arcuate member 40 and it will thus change its rateof movement at every point inthe lower arcuate s urface,.the movement ofthe lever 15 being thus not merely amplified but also accelerated. Ifonly a two-point bearing is desired, the abutment 42 may be so adjustedas to render inoperative the lower surface of the arcuate member 4-0thus providing two successive pivotal axes 39 and 42 which may be in anydesired ratio to each other.

A signal such as a bulb 43 is provided for indicating when the draftvalve 20 is open. The mechanism for energizing the bulb 43 includes achain 44 which is connected to the chain 19 as shown in Figure 2. Thechain 44 is connected through an adjusting device 45 with a switchmember 46. The switch member 46 is made of resilient material to contactwith its cooperating switch member "but it is held out of engagementtherewith by the tension on the cable 44 when the draft valve 20 isclosed. The opening movement of the draft valve 20 equal in distance tothe distance between the switch members will cause the switch member 46to close the light circuit 47. As the draft valve 20 closes, the switchmember 46 will move out of contact owing to its resilience. By means ofthe adjustable plate 45 the length of the cable 44 may be adjusted asdesired.

An L-shaped lever 48 is secured to the lever 15 to project beyond theextremity thereof. The lever 48 is angularly adjustable on the lever 15by means of a set screw 49 or the like. A coil spring 50 is connected tothe lever 48 and to a resilient switch element 51 as shown in Figure 1.The closing of the switch 51 will close the circuit 52 to start theoperation of a fan (not shown), as shown and described in our priorpatent.

In our description we have used terms which describe precisely thevarious parts shown in our drawing. It is to be understood, however,that we reserve to ourselves the full range of mechanical equivalentsfalling under the terms which appear in the appended claims. Forexample, the term chain applies to the elements as shown in our drawingbut it is obvious that other forms of chains could be employed or otherflexible elements which would perform all of the functions of the chainswhich we show. Likewise, the. term draft valve refers in general to theelement which permits the entrance of air to the combustible fuel toincrease the heat in the furnace, regardless of whether the fuelis solidlike coal, liquid like fuel oil or gaseous. When the heat is generatedby other than a combustible fuel, some form of regulator becomesnecessary and it is possible to employ the chain 19 for controlling sucha regulator. An example of this would be the electric stove in which theheat is regulated by a rheostat. Our furnace attachment is, however,fully adapted for connection with such heaters without in any wayaltering the structure of the attachment except to adjust the variousparts for the specific form of heater.

Having thus described our invention in such full, clear, and exact termsthat its construction and operation will be readily understood by othersskilled in the art to which it pertains, what we claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A furnace attachment including a lever for transmitting in amplifiedform the movements of expansion and contraction of the furnace toautomatically control the opening and closing movements of the draftvalve of the furnace, and a stationary fulcrum having an elongatedcurved bearing surface for progressively altering the amplitude ofmovement of said lever.

2. A furnace attachment including a lever for transmitting in amplifiedform the movements of expansion and contraction of the furnacetoautomatically control the opening and closing movements of the draftvalve of the furnace, a curved fulcrum contact for progressivelyaltering the amplitude of movement of said lever, and an adjustableabutment at the outer extremity of said fulcrum.

3. A furnace attachment including a lever for transmitting in amplifiedform the movements of expansion and contraction of the furnace toautomatically control the opening and closing movements of the draftvalve and check valve of the furnace, a manually operable leveradjustably secured to the first said lever, and chains securedrespectively to the check valve and the draft valve of the furnace andto said manually operable lever whereby adjustmentthereof willadjustably .alter the initial setting of both of said chains. 7

4. A furnace attachment includinga lever and a chain for transmittingthe movements of expansion and contraction of the furnace toautomatically control the opening and closing movements of the draftvalve of the furnace, means for shortening saidchain to hold the draftvalveof the furnace in open position, and means for automaticallyreleasing said chain shortening means when the temperature of. thefurnace reaches a predetermined point.

5. A furnace attachment including a lever and a chain for transmittingthe movements of expansion and contraction of the furnace toautomatically control the opening and closing move- 'ments of the draftvalve of the furnace, means for shortening said chain to hold the draftvalve of the furnace in open position, means for automatically releasingsaid chain shortening means when the temperature of the furnace reachesa predetermined point, and a remote control for manually actuating saidreleasing means.

6. A furnace attachment including a lever and a chain for transmittingthe movements of expansion and contraction of the furnace toautomatically control the opening,and closing movements of the draftvalve of the furnace, a second lever pivotally secured to the first saidlever, means on said second lever for engaging said chain to shortensaid chain and to thereby maintain the draft valve of the furnace inopen position, and automatically operated means-for releasing said meanson said second. lever from engagement with said chain when thetemperature of the furnace reachesa predetermined point.

7. A furnace heat regulator comprising a heat responsive memberconnected to the draft valve for operation, means for holding thefurnace draft valve in open position while simultaneously maintainingsaid valve against complete closing by said member, and means forautomatically releasing said holding means at a predetermined furnacetemperature, said releasing meansbeing adjustable for automaticoperation at any desired furnace temperature.

8. A furnace heat regulator comprising a heat responsive memberconnected to the draft valve for operation, means for opening thefurnace draft valve, means carried by the member for holding the furnacedraft valve in open position while simultaneously maintaining said valveagainst complete closing by said member, and means for automaticallyreleasing said holding means at a predetermined furnace temperature,said releasing means being adjustable for automatic operation at anydesired furnace temperature.

9. A furnace attachment including a lever connected to the furnace draftvalve and operable by the movements of expansion and contraction of thefurnace, means carried by the lever for releasably holding the draftvalve of the furnace against complete closing, and means operable bysaid lever at a predetermined furnace temperature for automaticallyreleasing said valve from said holding means for lever operation.

10. A furnace attachment including a lever connected to the draft valveand operable by the movements of expansion and contraction of thefurnace, manually operable means for opening the draft valve of thefurnace while simultaneously preventing complete closing of the valve bysaid lever means for releasably holding'said manually operable means tomaintain the draft valve of the furnace in open position irrespective ofthe position of the lever, and means operable by said lever .forautomatically releasing said holding means at a predetermined furnacetemperature whereby to restore the valve to the lever for operationthereby.

11'. A furnace attachment including 'alever having one of its ends incontact with the furnace for lever movements in response to themovements of expansion and contraction of the furnace, means operable bysaidlever for opening and closing the draft valve and the check valve ofthe furnace in response to the movements of expansion and contraction ofthe furnace, a control for manually opening the draft valve of thefurnace, and means automatically operable to close the draft valve ofthe furnace at a predetermined furnace temperature.

12. A furnace attachment including a lever having a pivot outside thefurnace jacket and in proximity thereto, the inner extremity of saidlever being in contact with the-furnace for lever movements in responseto the movements of expansion and contraction of the furnace, meansoperable by said lever for openingand closing the draft valve and thecheck valve of the furnace in response to the expansion and contractionmovemerits" of the furnace, means for opening the draft valve of thefurnace, means for holding the draft valve of the furnace in openposition, and means automatically operable to close the draft valve ofthe furnace ata predetermined furnace tem perature, r Y

13. A furnace heat regulator comprising a heat responsive memberconnected to the draftvalve for operation, means for disengaging saidmember from valve operation and holding the furnace draft valve in openposition, said means automatically releasing the draft valve foroperation into open or closed position by said member at a predeterminedfurnace temperature.

' 14.- A furnace heat regulator comprising a heat responsive memberconnected to the draft valve of the furnace for operation, andreleasable means for disengaging said member from valve operation andholding the. draft valve in open position against complete closing bythe member until a predetermined furnace temperature has been reached.

15. A furnace heat regulator comprising a heat responsive memberconnected to thedraft valve of the furnace for operation, and releasablemeans carried by said member for disengaging said member from valveoperation and holding the draft valve in open position against completeclosing by the member until a predetermined furnace temperature has beenreached.

16. A furnace heat regulator comprising a heat responsive memberconnected to the draft valve of the furnace for operation, and manuallyset releasable means carried'by said member for disengaging said memberfrom valve operation and holding the draft valve in open positionagainst complete closing by the member until a predetermined furnacetemperature has been reached.

17. A furnace heat regulator comprising a flexible member connected atone end to the draft valve of the furnace, a member movable undertemperature changes in the furnace, releasable holding means carried bythe second member engageable with said flexible member for holding thedraft valve open irrespective of the temperature in the furnace, andmeans connected to said holding means and to a stationary part forreleasing said holding means when a predetermined temperature has beenreached in the furnace.

18. A furnace heat regulator comprising a member connected to the draftValve of the fur nace, a second member connected to the furnace andmovable under temperature changes in the furnace, a rock member carriedby said second member and movable therewith; means carried by said rockmember and engaging said first member for releasably holding the draftvalve in open position irrespective of temperature changes in thefurnace, and a third member securedat one part to a stationary supportand connected at another part to said rock member whereby to rock saidrock'meinber into released position for closing the draft valve at apredetermined furnace temperature.

1 PAUL C. TIMM;

.WILLIAM P. TIMM.

